Rising anticipatory anxiety grips U.S. adults amid politics, AI and wildfire uncertainty

Anticipatory anxiety, defined as excessive dread about events that have not yet occurred, is increasing among Americans. Researchers link the surge to a confluence of stressors: political instability, rapid AI adoption, and unpredictable wildfires that fuel a persistent sense of threat.

The American Psychiatric Association’s 2024 Stress in America poll found that more than 70% of U.S. adults report anxiety about current events, with the economy, socio‑political climate and gun violence ranking highest. By 2025, roughly three‑quarters of adults said concerns about the nation’s future remain a major source of stress, mirroring 2024 results. Younger adults are especially affected; about two‑thirds of those aged 18‑34 have considered moving abroad because of the nation’s condition. Research on the 2024 election suggests that news‑related stress, rather than the election outcome itself, is closely tied to higher odds of generalized anxiety.

Clinicians recommend evidence‑based strategies to break the forward‑leaning mental loop, emphasizing realistic threat assessment and coping techniques to reduce the chronic high‑alert state.